Reflections on Graduation

Xaiver at special brunch for students
receiving doctorates

Bakke Graduate University 2012 Commencement reflections:

Things I heard at the ceremonies where my friend Xavier received his doctorate (Doctor of Transformational Leadership):

What is your city?

Go love and serve your city in the name of Christ.  (the charge each doctoral graduate received).

Theology is the science of being blessedly loved for eternity.

I am from, Holland, Ethiopia, Philippines, Myanmar, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Kenya, Uganda, California, India, Pittsburgh, Liberia, Hong Kong, Sierre Leone, Washington, Florida....(there were more!)

My dissertation was the Theology of Work and the Alleviation of Poverty in Mozambique.

Service in progress

Work came before the curse, work is not a curse.  The word for 'work' is often translated 'worship'.  Whatever our work, we need to do it well for God as it is a way of serving Him and worshiping Him.

We were created to work.

Christians are embracing their humanity in new ways as God did through Christ.

Xavier being hooded - my camera chose this
time to freeze up on me.

Evangelical Christians try to climb a ladder to God but they need to learn to go down the ladder as He did and find peace in that journey.

We need to love every church because God loves every church.

The CRU Global Church Planting Program through a global alliance plans to plant 5 million churches by 2020.

People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.

A pair of Docs

Homes are shattered throughout the world.  Leadership begins in the home through Christ and extends into the community.

There are 10 million overseas workers from the Philippines.

As graduates you need to:

1.  Love the God of Jesus and continue to mine the scriptures as you go forward.
2.  Love your family and friends in a fresh way.
3.  Love God's mission and His church.
4.  Improvise.  Love God's projects in history but improvise into the future.

We need to improvise missionally:

1.  The world will always be changing and we are today in a new context; we are in a post-secular, post colonial world.  We to learn to live in these new contexts.
2.  'ONLY live your life in a manner worth of the gospel of Christ...' Live in this manner so that there is  NEW context for the world to see.
3.  We need to know God and see him in the missionary context (He sent Jesus to us).  We need to love this missionary God and follow him into pain and suffering.  
4.  We need to live the new Gospel, which is simply stated:  "Jesus is Lord".  A lord has a reign and is a king we should follow into the cities.
5.  We need to remember that the church was always intended to be mission and we need to improvise missionally so He gets all the credit, to God BE the Glory.

We need to learn to simply 'be'; to be in His presence.  Everything else flows out of this, and thus, Him.

Dave and Dr. Massingue

Congratulations Dr. Massingue and vai com Deus amigo caro.

Blessings

Dave

The completed table where each graduate (Masters
and Doctorate graduates) lighted their candle from
the staff's three candles

"Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."  1 Philippians 2:9

"Take my will and make it Thine, It shall be no longer mine.  Take my heart, it is Thine own, It shall be Thy royal throne."  (Hymn, Take my Life)

What is YOUR city?

This is the balcony of the church where the graduates
went after the service and together sang to the
audience.  It was beautiful.

Seattle

Tonight I am in Seattle, looking forward to being with Xavier as he receives his doctorate degree from Bakke University tomorrow.  It is a privilege to be here with him and to present him with a congratulatory letter from the mission President.  Xavier is currently a professor and the Registrar for the OMS Seminary in Maputo.  He has an impressive resume that includes heading up the Bible League in Maputo, overseeing church planting work in a variety of countries in Africa for the Into-Africa Project, church planting work in Mozambique, church planting work with OMS seminary students, and initiating special classes on the Theology of Work and Alleviation of Poverty.

Ann and I have always been very fond of Xavier and his wife Marta and it is a privilege to be here in Seattle with him.

I enjoyed meeting some of his fellow students from various countries in Africa.  They all said the same thing, it has been a long and challenging road but they are all very happy to have finished well.  These are a few photos from our day today.

I look forward to seeing what how God will use him to change Mozambique for Christ.   He is an amazing fellow for whom I have a great deal of respect.

Much love.

Dave


"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way."  Ps 37:23

Xavier (middle) and some Doctoral Classmates

Ordination Service

Saturday marked an historic day; one in which 4 pastors of our Igreja Evangelica Palavra Viva (IEPV) or Evangelical church of the Living Word, were ordained and another four were licensed for a 3-year term as they work on fulfilling the denominational requirements to be ordained.  I mentioned in my last blog that there had been a lengthy process for choosing these men.

Pastor Vaughn Telfer, OMS regional representative and former missionary to Mozambique came to participate in the proceedings.

It was a wonderful day with people traveling from all over Mozambique to participate in the proceedings.  As each name was called, the people from their local churches cheered - there was an air of both reverence and great joy / celebration.

Missionary Aimee Howarth and IEPV church leader Raul Manhissa were joint MCs of the event.   One of our Mozambican advisors also participated in the event.

It was a privilege to play a small part in this historic day, which is one more step in the growth of this Mozambican Christian denomination.

While Juka Fernando is down, along with Dinis Ramos, we will have a joint Church Multiplication Meeting this week, looking forward to this next budget year and the required planning documents that must e completed.

After the service, there were parties for the new pastors in various locations around the area.  We only had time to make two of the events, which provided a wonderful time for more celebration and of course, wonderful food.

Thank you for standing with us.  A day like today reminds of why we are here - and we pray that God will fill these church leaders in a way that leaves no doubt that it is Him who is leading this church forward; reaching Mozambique for Christ.  We pray He will fill them with a passion for reaching their Nation for Christ.

Much love to all of you.

Dave and Ann

"For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; while it is said, today if he will hear his voice, harden not your hearts..."  Hebrews 3: 14-15

Books

In an earlier post, I wrote about a recent visit from representatives of a church in Brazil, who has it origins 50-years ago from Japanese immigrants to Brazil, who were from the OMS-founded church in Japan.  God's network is amazing and cannot be defeated.

The CONIM church in Brazil had purchased books for our seminary.  We were in a bit of a quandary as to how to get the books to us from Brazil.  Our shipment is still not delivered after four months and we cannot help but worry about how to get things here from overseas with any kind of surety. I still painfully remember an entire large book bag of our personal books that never made it to Mozambique.

So, the idea was to experiment, send some this way and some that way.  Well, today, a box mailed to our address in Machava, arrived at the down-town post office in Maputo and somehow they linked the OMS address in Machava to our down-town post office box (that seems close to a miracle!), and dropped a note that we had a package.  Melvin picked it up and took it to the seminary.  One box has arrived - and we pray that the other 9 will as well.

In the photo, Dave, Jim Pickett, and Daniel Maduel are inspecting these new portuguese books that are a huge blessing to the seminary and its students.  Thank you Lord!  Thank you CONIM.  May the other 9 boxes make it as well.  These new and current books - what a wonderful wonderful gift from our brothers and sisters in Brazil.  THANK YOU!

Ann is in this picture also - behind the camera!

We had a very encouraging meeting today with our Seminary Director and we had some really great break-throughs in thinking that left Ann and I very encouraged.  Jim is a great addition to our Mozambique team and we praise God that Jim could join us to lead the seminary while Don is on furlough.  

Blessings.

Dave and Ann

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you."  Is 26:3

Church Planting by our Seminary Students

A few blogs ago, I mentioned that our seminary students were actively planting churches around the Maputo area.  Exciting to see and one of our professors, Xavier, is doing a great job heading this up.

The students went out into an area on the outskirts of the Maputo area where we have a small village church.  Based there, they held the normal church planting class and then canvased the neighborhood in groups, visiting nearly 60 houses to share their faith through the use of a survey and see if the people in the house had a Bible or would like one.   To get the Bible, they will need to attend some classes by the students, the end of which, they will receive a new Bible.

Of course, food was involved - important in any culture, as the local church partnered with the visiting seminary students.

It is a great thing to see and exciting to watch the seminary develop tomorrow's leaders!

Thanks Xavier!  Thank you students!

We have no steady income stream for this seminary program.  Is God speaking to you?  See charge number to the right for the Seminary Students.  We're contributing to this personally ourselves as well, ever month because we believe in it and can see God's hand at work!  Join us.

Blessings.

Dave and Ann


I really think God is constantly searching the world, looking for a few people willing to set their pride aside and submit to Him, so He can transform them and through them change the world!  

Church Planting

Our passion here continues to be church planting but in a general sense, the fruit has been sparse during our absence.  But, there is something exciting happening as well.

Our desire has always been to keep the seminary and the church planting work here aligned - tracking together.  The first year of the seminary (bible college) program is very similar to what we teach in the villages over three years.  With that is an emphasis on evangelism and church planting.

One of our seminary professors (Xavier) is an experienced church planter who has excited some of the students and they are going out on the weekends and applying what they have learned in school.  With that passion and excitement, the seminary students have themselves started 13 church plants around the Maputo area, something we haven't been able to do successfully in the Maputo area.  These plants cover a variety of evangelical denominations, as our seminary represents more than just our OMS-founded denomination.  This is quite exciting to us and we look forward to seeing what God will do in the lives of these students through the works they have started. It's a vision coming to fruition.  Very exciting.

We have bought a vehicle - but today is a Mozambican holiday related to the signing of the peace accords ending the war.  We hope to get the insurance worked out in the next couple of days and we should take delivery in the next couple of days.  It's not fancy by a long stretch but it should serve us well over this next term.  I'll see about a picture in the coming days if we can get the Internet speed thing squared away.

Today we finished spraying the school and remaining houses here for mosquitos and did some heavy-duty rat baiting.  We were a bit over confident and had a small get-together this evening outside and ended up with a few mosquito bites.  Drat and double drat.... Got to be more careful with repellents and the like.  Two of our Mozambican friends came to us this morning with sick wives that could be malaria, flu, or maybe morning sickness or some combination of all of those things!  The answer is testing at the clinic, which we were privileged to help them with, but not medicines they thought we might have.

Blessings this holiday in Mozambique - from Mozambique.

Our colleagues, the Weils, have left for their well-deserved furlough and have safely arrived in Canada, for which we are thankful.  I lost track today of how many things we wished we could have asked them about!!

Dave and Ann

"Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days...Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children...."  Psalm 90:15-17

Seminary Video

Our colleagues in Mozambique prepared this nice video of the seminary in Maputo.

Hope you enjoy it!  If all goes well, you should be able to click on the link below and see the video in U-tube.

It is only 3 minutes and 39 seconds long.

Dave and Ann


Maputo Biblical and Theological Seminary Video

Graduation

We knew that yesterday was the planned graduation of the seminary certificate level theology class. We started this class through our church planting program about two years ago, with the class meeting each Saturday. Although we started with more students, these are the ones who remained faithful and dedicated and perservered, to finish their training. We know each of these graduates well and are excited to see what God does in each of their lives. There is an additional Saturday class in progress and Pastor Daniel is planning to start another.

The red shirts identify them as the graduates!

Congratulations to Luisa, Isabel, Julia, Victoria, Nelio and Basilo! (Photo shows Daniel giving a charge to the graduates!).

Thank you Lord for Daniel's faithfulness to teach these students with enthusiasm, dedication, and Your love. Thank you for each of these students and what You are are doing in each of their lives. Use them in a mighty way to reach their precious nation for Christ.

And of course, there is always cake!

So sad for us to miss this but we are so thankful for the pictures our team sent to us!

Dave & Ann

"Living for Jesus a life that is true,

Striving to please Him in all that I do;

Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,

This the pathway of blessing for me"

(Hymn by Thomas Chisholm and C. Harold Lowden, 1917)

Pennsylvania and Headquarters

I have been negligent in writing since we entered Pennsylvania. We have found ourselves very busy, trying to reconnect with folks we haven't seen for some time. It was an emotional event when we drove over the Pennsylvania line and the tears flowed for both of us. Some dear friends have put us up in their spare bedroom and we share a bathroom with their precious daughter, who visited us in Mozambique a couple of years ago. We feel very comfortable here and it is a tremendous help and blessing to us. The only trouble is that they are feeding us way too well and the pounds are going on. Self-discipline is so difficult when everything tastes so good!

Our time at OMS headquarters was very beneficial and we were thankful to be updated on what is happening in the world of OMS and for the wonderful help to prepare us for our home-assignment travel and speaking engagements. Recent renovations at the headquarters building gave a professional feel to the facility and Ann liked the colors very much (red is involved! and they match the new One Mission Society Logo).

When you first enter the facility, you see this wall (photo) and the picture on the far right is of Dinis Ramos, one of our church multiplication trainers - that made us smile and be a little homesick. In addition, on the other side of the door on the left of the picture was another group of pictures, including one old picture of a Khongolote church service, and we knew the kids in the picture and knew how much they have grown since the picture was taken!

We were updated on a new computer program that will help us manage our mailing list and keep up with folks, and found out in the process that we have a few people who have helped us but unbeknownst to us

were not on our mail list - not good! So, we're fixing that. We also resolved some income tax questions (boring!) and other new administrative requirements that we're working on (even more boring from a blog standpoint!). Bureaucracy, what would we do without it!

The only thing that troubled us and even discouraged us was that there is no credible funding plan for the operation of our seminary and since our seminary isn't in as much financial trouble as other seminaries, we fall to the bottom of the stack. So, we are praying for new and innovative ideas for how we as a field can fund the seminary and are making this the center of our fund raising work over the coming months. It goes against our business sense to just spend into deficit until it becomes a crisis!

We hope to raise some scholarship money for individual students that can help us defray the real costs of our school. We feel a great responsibility for this as we recognize that the seminary is key to the continuing growth, stability, and self-sustainability of the OMS work in Mozambique. But doing the same old tired things over and over expecting a different result is not the answer - so we are praying that God would help us with some fresh ideas. We've been corresponding with our colleagues in Mozambique about all of this.

We left Indianapolis feeling privileged to be a part of the One Mission Society, having had a bit of a glimpse into the many different OMS ministries across the world.

While there, we received our official medical checkup by a doctor quite known for his knowledge of tropical medicine. I lost count of all the tubes of blood they took out of us to test for various exotic things. We left with a good bill of health but strong admonition to get more exercise and not let the food of America put pounds on us as our weight was good. We are not doing well on the food and exercise as of this point. We are still waiting on our final

blood results and we did get de-wormed again because we did have the problem a number of times in Mozambique (didn't you just want to know this little bit of information - euuuuuuh).

We visited many friends and supporters in and around Greenwood, Indiana, including a former colleague who had served in Mozambique. All of these visits were an encouragement to us and we found that the more we talked about our time in Mozambique, the more excited we became for God really did amazing things during our time there.

This last photo is of some of the people who manage the Every Community for Christ (ECC) program that funds our church multiplication work in Mozambique. They are special dedicated people with a passion for church planting and it continues to be our joy to work with them.

Thanks for standing with us!

Dave & Ann

"Do not let your hearts be troubled, Trust in God; trust also in me" John 14:1

Dedication of Mocuba Training Center Project

We have returned to Maputo after two wonderful weeks in northern Mozambique. Aimee Howarth traveled with us and it was a special time for us to get to know each other and share our common passion for the wonderful people of Mozambique. We returned worn-out, sun-burned, bed-bug bitten, mosquito bitten, caterpillar bitten, and probably parasite infested but greatly encouraged at what He is doing in our OMS-related churches in northern Mozambique. What a priviledge all of us to be able to participate in such a things - truly. Thank you making it all possible and being such a vital part!

There is too much to write about in one entry and I am even considering writing a more technical paper based on our last years here as I have formed some rather strong opinions about the church multiplication work we are engaged in. We approached the work completely open with absolutely no pre-conceptions but after four years of working with it, we have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly, and we feel we have a good understanding of the situation here in Mozambique. At the deck-plate level, there is quite a culture clash that develops between the result-oriented Western demand for forms, numbers, statistics, and a culture where these things are simply not important and even offensive and where at the basis of everything is relationships. Both worlds have to be satisfied, but the world-view conflict is significant. But once again, I digress.

It is hard to determine how best to describe this trip. It was made simply to validate our church multiplication program results and check with / interview our church trainers and their student pastor planters. We wanted to help with issues and problems but especially to challenge and encourage these dedicated church leaders. But, there were also a number of side agendas as well. I’ll divide these into a few subcategories.

Travel

Praise-the-Lord that we had no real significant car problems. The roads north of Xai-Xai are the worst of the entire trip and much much worse than 9 months ago, even though a Chinese-lead consortium has been working on it the entire time. It seems they simply push dirt from one side of the road to the other with no real results. With our four-wheel drive, we were able to crawl over piles, through mud, around over-turned semi trucks and stuck semis and buses, dodge construction equipmen, but it was quite wearing. We did lose air conditioning for the trip back and we were push-starting the car (beating the solenoid with a hammer to get the starter to engage only works so long!). But, when Aimee and Ann would start pushing, others would usually join in! We also never shut the engine off for fuel stops, or other stops, and when we did have to stop, we tried to be at the top of some sort of incline. We felt God’s presence on the entire trip. We drove up in two long days, and the last leg on the second day was very nerve-racking as it was very dark, there are no lights or electricity where we were driving, so it is VERY dark; and when a car or motorcycle approached us, it made it very difficult to see pedestrians, carts, animals, and the like walking on the side of the road or in the road. Fortunately, there is very little traffic at night! This was also the first trip where we didn’t have one or more flat tires and smash the car on a tree or rock in the bush somewhere!

The bridge over the Zambezi River was complete and that shorten the second day by a couple of hours and what an incredible view from the top of the bridge as we went over this magnificent river that was at flood stage because of tremendous rains inland. It would have been impassable by ferry this trip. They charged us a small toll that was the same as the old ferry; I have no complaints! It really is a vast vast improvement.

We were loaded heavy both directions. We took a generator for the construction project in Mocuba along with bibles and training materials so the back was completely full – no visibility except by side mirrors. Extra tires and rims were on top and the backseat was loaded as well except for where Aimee sat. On the way back, we brought books, a crate, and a suitcase back for missionary friends in Nampula who are getting ready to go on furlough dropping their things off in Xai-Xai for storage. So, we were just as loaded and heavy coming back.

For my guy friends, we averaged nearly 16 miles per gallon, which isn’t bad for a big and old four-wheel drive loaded to the gills with things stacked on top! We traveled a little under 5000 km, which is about 3100 miles. One kid in Mocuba threw a big brick at us and disappeared into the nearby bush, putting a big dent in the side near the roof – just missing our window. Kind of sad – we’d been visiting the church of a pastor we know from another denomination. He was embarrassed as it was right in front of his church! In one parking location where we stayed a night, we came out to have someone spray-painting yellow within about five feet of the car – so we have a nice over-spray tint one side. I hope I can get it off when I try to clear it up this afternoon. Reminded me of a time when I worked at a shipyard in Charleston, SC when they were painting cranes and covered my white car with and over-spray of blue paint!

Dedication of Training Center Project

It is very difficult to categorize any single highlight of this trip as more special than any other as there were so many special things. We did spent time with Belarmino and the Training Center construction site. We laid out the foundations of the structures and agreed on the general lay-out of the land. There continues to be challenges with access to the land and while we were in Mocuba, there were a number of meetings with local officials, who want this project, but must very carefully work with the people who are growing crops on the road-right-of-way that leads to our land. So, progress is being made and after the harvest is made, the bull dozer will open the current path-way to the land. The workers are using wheel-barrows to move block, cement, and the like down footpaths until this is resolved. Belarmino’s view is “no problem, I’m paying them either way.” It is the cost of the materials that is the most significant cost of the project. (Note, the silver structure is a temporary place to secure our tools and materials as the project begins. On one side will be a temporary area of shade for the workers - you must get out of the sun to rest, eat, and the like.

We held a dedication service at the land, digging the first shovel-fulls of dirt and the first corner of the training center. All of us participated as we prayed together for Gods’ blessing on this project in total, that the workers would be safe and that we would see much spiritual fruit from this project. We felt that this was a very important first step – I would be fearful to proceed absent of dedicating the land, the project, and the vision of the project to the Lord. We want to stay in foot-step with where He is leading the project.

Things you get involved with can be surprising. On one side of our land, there are many banana trees that are producing abundantly. A man has been harvesting these bananas for many years although he has no claim on the land. He is demanding payment (significant) for the loss of his banana plants that are really just wild plants. We will work something out on this but it is a process that has too just take time. We might let him continue to harvest for example, or reach some other arrangement but it is a part of the process. In Mozambique, as I have mentioned before, you never own the land, only the improvements on the land – it is a subtle but important difference in how you approach things here.

So, today, we are transferring 50% of the cost of a new well on the training center land (a simple pump-type well) which will be used by the training center and the community. We have a quote of about $7200 for this well from a company called Afrodril. We met with them and although I didn’t get the best ‘vibes’ from them at first but they did seem to know their business well and we were able to negotiate a reduced price, having started at about $11,000. They at first thought OMS was the World Health Organization (Organizão de Mundo Saude), which definitely doesn’t work in our favor in this case! But recognizing we were a church organization, with very limited resources, they were willing to negotiate a better price for us. We are still short about 3000 dollars for this well (comes from separate funding) and could use a little boost in our Mozambique Water for Life project account (#407670); OMS, PO Box 1648; Monument, CO 80132-1648 (put ‘#407670 – Moz wells’ on the memo line). Every little bit helps!

Clean water is key to health - there were cholera outbreaks very near to where we were visiting on this trip.

Blessings – more to follow.

Dave & Ann

“The LORD will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand.” De 29:12

Class of 2013

This photo is of our Class of 2013! Great picture of our first baccalaureate-level class! Pray for these future and current church leaders!

We met with the Department of Religious Affairs today to give them a letter explaining the OMS name change to OMS (One Mission Society). It was an interesting meeting. In this culture, when you sign your name on a letter, for it to be official, you have to stamp over your name with the official stamp of the organization. This is very important here. So, they asked us to update our stamp and then I have to go back and personally stamp something in their presence so they have our new stamp on-file. I didn't expect that but we can certainly do that. It was a great meeting and the Minister of Religious Affairs practiced English while I practiced Portuguese, so we had some fun communicating.

We are busy preparing for our trip north - I bought a spare rim so we can carry two ready spares this time. I have always carried extra tires (and used them!) but had only one extra rim. We've always had blow-outs on these trips and want to be ready. We will be carrying a lot of weight in books/bibles this trip and need to be sure we are able to handle everything. I will need to get a more heavier duty jack also to replace the one that was stolen - the one I have is fine for an empty vehicle, but fully loaded, we need something beefier. It doesn't match any of the others, but it fits, which is what is important! We are also debating a trip to Milange, over a road with a mighty reputation for being extremely bad - so we need to be ready.

We are starting to get the calls now where everyone wants to ride north with us; take cargo, send family members, and the like. We laughed with Aimee (who is going with us) and told her to start practicing the word "no" because with the three of us and all the books, car parts, and supplies for the north, we will be more weight limited than space and here, if there is a cubic inch of space, you cram something in it even if the axles are sagging. We must be reasonable in what we can do and not damage our vehicle.

The local photocopy shop make us 200 copies of a training manual we use with our church planting work - it figures out to about six dollars a copy. I was a bit short of the cash, but we've done so much business there, the lady (Sarah) said "I know you - no problem to me if you bring the rest of the money tomorrow!" That is very unusual here and we have found that people often trust us because we are American and we are missionaries - that is something that is taken for granted in the States - that people are expected to be honest. It is not the norm in many cultures (like here) where you expect dishonesty. At the tire store today, the manager of the store who we have gotten to know well (I was consulting with him about my punctured tires and the long trip ahead of us) - he told me how last night a friend of his had his car broken into last night - they broke a window to enter, took the windshield, entire dashboard, including the radio and the like, and the seats. Now that would be a shock in the morning!

Belarmino and his family head north in the morning on the bus to start preparing for the construction of the training center. He will be there three to four months and we will see him in a few weeks. His plan is to get some basic things laid out before we arrive there.

Blessings this day.

Dave & Ann

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28

The Door is Open

Today was the first day of our new seminary class. It was certainly a day of firsts and there was great excitement in the air. It brought us great joy to see the front door open as if to say 'open for business!' We especially enjoyed hearing each student's testimony about what they hoped to gain from the seminary classes. The theme was common, to learn more about God's word so they can teach others, evangelize, and share their faith. Don Hulsey emphasized to them that all the head knowledge in the world is worthless absent a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He challenged each student strongly to be open to what God would do in their lives through this program but first and foremost, to develop their relationship with God.

Pastor Daniel handled alot of the administrative details and we so enjoyed watching him assume command of the class. He is a gifted teacher and I sense great things in his life as he follows God's call and teaches this new class. Xavier introduced himself as well and gave his own challenge to the students admonishing them to be family starting today. New Bibles were handed out, as that is the ultimate text-book, and after a short break, they dove into 'A Panoramic View of the Old Testament'.

Doug Miller, a dear friend who is with OC mission helped out today also. His mission is now renting out the top floor of the seminary building - providing a little income for us. We all work together and understand the importance of leadership training to the furthering of the work.

Tuesday and Thursday will be chapel and each student will have a roll to play. Other classes this term include Spiritual Formations and Hermeneutics.

So, each time something happened today, it was the first time! The front gate was opened and used instead of the normal rear gate, the first time the class prayed together, the first time everyone was introduced, the first time the study bibles were used as they were unpackaged, the first time many of us had met.....an exciting day with undeniable energy in the air; thank you Lord for what you are doing here in Mozambique. Bless this dear class, draw them together as family, guard them, be with each student and staff as we strive to train new leaders to spread the reality of what comes through relationship with you; of your power and majesty; of the peace that surpasses all understanding. Thank you for the call you place on each person's life. Thank you in advance for each of those you will call to help these dear students.

Amen.

Dave & Ann

"The heart of the righteous studies how to answer....." Proverbs 15:28

PS - we just got word of a Sunday School class sponsoring one student! Thank you Lord!!

Project: 302000 Maputo Seminary

Theology of Work

I’ve written quite a bit about our pending seminary class that begins on Monday; a walk of faith to be sure with our non-existent funding for such an endeavor. But we are so thankful to God for bringing the program thus far, for providing for every need, and why would we think He would bring it to this point to not complete the work?

It will be a grand day because it represents the culmination of a lot of work from a lot of different people. We have everything in place to start and are excited to see what God will do in the lives of the staff, students, and missionaries alike. Thirty new students wanting to impact their community and

country for Christ…Thank you Lord!

In the midst of all this, one of our Mozambican teaching staff is working on his doctorate and as a part of that endeavor, received a grant to do a special class on the Theology of Work. The class began on Saturday and was attended by 30 people from over 10 denominations and is the first of 12 classes he is having in the next three months on this appropriate topic. We rejoice with our dear friend and his desire to address this topic in a society where it is very important to receive a salary but not necessarily to have to do anything for it! We thank God for this

new avenue to teach Biblical truths; changing lives in the process. He had students from 10 denominations, including pastors, Bible School graduates, and Professional personnel. He is a gifted teacher and well recognized as such; we are thankful to have him working with us.

He has asked that we remember him in prayer as prepares for and gives the classes.

We are always thrilled when our seminary building is being used to further Gods word to a lost and dying world!

Blessings!

Dave & Ann

“…for every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand ….for the world is Mine and all its fullness…..Offer to God Thanksgiving…Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me…..” Psalm 50: 10-15